This course is designed primarily for research scientists, postdoctoral trainees, and advanced graduate students in animal, plant, medical, and material sciences. Non-biologists seeking a comprehensive introduction to microscopy and digital imaging will benefit greatly from the course. Some prior theoretical or practical understanding of the basic principles of optics and microscopy is necessary. This 10 day course is limited to 26 students. It consists of correlated lectures, laboratory exercises, demonstrations, and discussions that will enable the participant to obtain and interpret microscope images of high quality, to perform quantitative optical measurements, and to produce high quality digital video, and digital records for documentation and analysis.

Students will have direct hands-on experience with state-of-the-art microscopes, digital cameras, recorders, and image processing equipment provided by major optical, electronics, and software companies. Instruction will be provided by experienced staff from universities and industry. Students are encouraged to bring their own biological and material specimens, and to discuss individual research problems with the faculty.